Lakers (25–16) vs. Nuggets (29–14) | Game 42 of 82
WHERE TO WATCH AND WHAT TIME
Location: Ball Arena — Denver, Colorado
TV: Peacock, NBC, Spectrum SportsNet
Radio: ESPN LA 710 / 1330 KWKW
The Lakers begin an eight-game road trip Tuesday in Denver after getting back in the win column in a 110–93 victory over the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday. This is the first time both teams will see each other this season.
Deandre Ayton delivered a historic night, becoming the third player in franchise history to be perfect from the field with at least 10 attempts, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds on 10-for-10 shooting.
It marked the third time this season Ayton finished perfect from the field with double-digit scoring and gave the Lakers the interior presence they’ve lacked during recent injuries. It marked the 16th double-double this season for the Bahamas native.
Luka Dončić returned to the lineup after missing Saturday’s loss in Portland and finished with 25 points and seven assists, while LeBron James added 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists, playing both ends of a back-to-back for the second straight time this season.
Coach JJ Redick leaned on two-way forward Drew Timme after a solid showing in his minutes, inserting him early in the second quarter with the Lakers trailing 30–23. A jumbo lineup of Marcus Smart, Jarred Vanderbilt, Timme, James and Ayton flipped the game, outscoring Toronto 15–3 to spark a decisive run.
The win improved the Lakers to 25–16 and 12–8 at home, keeping them sixth in the Western Conference as they now embark on their longest trip of the season.
Denver enter with the third best record in the West (29014), having won six of its last eight games and posting a 7–4 record since Nikola Jokić went down with a knee injury. Despite their recent success, the Nuggets are coming off a 110–87 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
With Jokić sidelined, Jamal Murray has carried the offensive load, averaging 26 points and 7.3 assists and leading Denver in scoring in each of the last four games. Aaron Gordon has also stepped into an expanded role as a passer and playmaker away from his usual dunker spot, averaging 18 points in 39 games this season while helping initiate the offense in Jokić’s absence.
Tuesday’s game will be a test for both teams, with the Lakers beginning a long road swing and the Nuggets continuing to adjust without their MVP centerpiece.
NOTABLE OPPONENT RANKS AMONG THE NBA
The Nuggets have the No. 1-rated offense (121.7) and the 23rd-rated defense (117.8) in the NBA. Here are their notable rankings this season:
Tim Hardaway Jr. (right knee contusion): Probable
Aaron Gordon (hamstring): Probable
Jamal Murray (illness, left knee inflammation): Probable
Christian Braun (ankle): Out
Nikola Jokić (knee): Out
Jonas Valančiūnas (right calf strain): Out
Cameron Johnson (right knee contusion): Out
Tamar Bates (foot): Out
The Lakers will wear their gold unis, while the Nuggets will wear their blue Icon Edition uniform.
The Lakers will travel back home in a sort of road game against cross-town rival Clippers on Thursday.